They were a band of (bruise) brothers

In the early 80’s, the late John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd created a new Hollywood persona with a movie called “The Blues Brothers.” They were pseudo-tough guys wearing black suits, dark glasses and the old Fedora flip brim hats. (Tom Landry style). It was a popular movie although it never produced a widespread\fashion trend except in some schools and in television commercials.

In one particular column, Kevin O’Keefe, then a sportswriter for the Express News, mentioned that the Spurs had a roster of players big enough to wrestle a Brahma bull and he tabbed them “The Bruise Brothers.”

Those basketball beefmasters were Dave Corzine who had played at DePaul, high draft choice Reggie Johnson from Tennessee,

the blonde bombardier, Paul Griffin, Mark Olberding who had played only one year of college ball for Bill Musselman at Minnesota, the late Kevin Restani who died in 2010, and the giant defender they called, “Mr. Swat”, George Johnson.

At center, Corzine, who led the team in rebounds, and Johnson were alternated by first year Coach Stan Albeck with the “Dinger” Olberding and Griffin at the wings. Guards were George “The Iceman” Gervin and Johnny “Junior” Moore.

In the 80-81 season the “Bruise Brothers” led the NBA in rebounds, blocked shots and personal fouls. They finished first in the initial year of the Midwest Division and “Mr. Swat”, Johnson, was sensational as a shot blocker as he set a club record with 13 rejections in one game. His hands were bigger than a grizzly bear’s paw and I remember seeing him swat one blocked shot about six rows up in the old Hemisfair Arena. In one TV inter-view I did with George, he could wrap his hands around my waist, which was size 34 at the time, and still have a thumb overlap. (If I only had that waist size now)

Never let it be said that the Spurs front office and Wayne Witt, who was media director, let a golden promotional opportunity slip by. Witt located some Fedoras and dark glasses, and took the “Brothers’ to the St. Paul Square area where there were some old, unoccupied buildings with an outside fire escape. They wore their warm-up pants, black jerseys, the glasses and the hats.

Witt had purchased some black spray paint and brought along a photographer and the sextet was to pose in front of the building which had been sprayed with graffiti that Witt hoped was washable

Just as the players were in position, a late model car screeched to a halt and a man jumped from the vehicle exclaiming, “you can’t do that … this is my building … you’re trespassing.”

Witt told the photographer to snap the photo and in about 30 seconds the picture was done and the rest, as they say, is Spurs history.

It has become a true collector’s item and might even bring some money on e-bay and no doubt, of the thousands handed out those 30 years ago, some may still adorn the wall of a middle-age fan who was then a kid hoping to get an autograph from one of the “Bruise Brothers” who were more popular in San Antonio than Belushi or Aykroyd could ever be.

I’m sure glad Witt didn’t have any ideas the season before when Billie Paultz was the starting center. He was nicknamed the “Whopper” because of his bulk. It just wouldn’t have had the same effect … “The Whopperuiser.”